Girth galls :(

[olivia]

On Saturday Tilly developed two girth galls for the first time in her life. At the moment they are at the pink skin stage and whilst they are obviously slightly tender they don't seem painful and she was fine to ride (under close supervision of my RI and with a sheepskin girth guard on).

But we're all a bit stumped by them as they seem very atypical. They're not actually where her girth is, - they are just in front of the girth by about 4cm. But what is happening as her leg comes back the skin is bunching up then being caught between the top of the girth and her point of elbow.

She's had this girth for just under a year and has never had anything like this - she was fine Saturday morning but YO took her for a two hour fairly fast hack and by the time she got back she had these sores.

Has anyone come across anything like this? Do you have any suggestions to solve the problem (maybe this will turn into a saddlery question??)? I know surgical spirit is the traditional solution, but I think her skin is too sore to use this now.

Cheers

Olivia

[greydales]

I wouldn't worry too much about them Olivia, Dan has had them a few times and also Dancer in reaction to a neoprene girth. They've gone away very quickly once the cause was established (in Dan's case a leather girth then a neoprene one, and Dancer seems to react to neoprene). I've never used anything on them, just given the horses a rest and they've gone away. But perhaps something like Sudocrem might help with soreness.

It's strange that Tilly has suddenly developed galls with a girth she has previously not had problems with - she's obviously being pinched or rubbed in that area. Has she lost or gained weight recently? Also what is your saddle and is the girth dressage or standard? I know that sometimes with dressage girths (as you have to use them with Heather Moffett saddles) if you have the buckles too low they can interfere with the elbow.

[Debbie]

I wonder if her recent mystery bumps might mean her skin is more sensitive all over right now? I mean, if a person's been in poison ivy, the rest of their skin might be more sensitive for awhile ....so maybe its the same with Tilly?